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Even if you’re exhausted by the retro-mania of the past half-decade, this year proved our enduring capacity to reinvent, evolve and expand existing forms. Between Dam-Funk, Thundercat, Kendrick Lamar, XL Middleton and more, L.A. produced a funk renaissance rivaling anything since Roger Troutman was laid to rest.

Kamasi Washington made the best modern jazz album since Miles Davis said his last “motherfucker.” Earl Sweatshirt is a “lyrical savior” far better than those who yearn for “lyrical saviors” deserve. Open Mike Eagle and Busdriver keep coughing out caustic tangents lampooning pop culture and economic inequity. Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs and YG proved that great gangsta rap can’t die.

In the adjacent lanes, Anderson .Paak, Ty Dolla Sign and Miguel supplied the sort of carnal soul that might as well come in the form of sex packets. Even Dre came back from his lost island fitness center/studio in the clouds (or Calabasas) to make a better album than a 50-year-old technology billionaire had a right to.

If you said that this is the best year for L.A. music in a decade, you wouldn’t be wrong. As such, the following list counts down some of the year’s finest — in haiku, as per tradition.